Foreigners will have to leave their fingerprints when they enter China this year to improve border checks, with the new rule to be gradually implemented across the country starting from Friday.

The Ministry of Public Security said on its website on Thursday that the move would see all foreigners aged between 14 and 70 asked to leave their fingerprints upon entry into China and the information would then stored for official use.

Sichuan Airlines will officially launch a direct scheduled flight from Chengdu to Prague on August 12. The flight schedule is one flight on every Tuesday and Friday. Airbus A330 aircraft are used for the airline, and the flight number and flight times are: Departure trip: 3U8295, taking off from Chengdu at 12:45 and arriving in Prague at 17:15; Return trip: 3U8296, taking off from Prague at 19:15 and arriving in Chengdu at 10:45 (the above times are both local times). The flight time of the departing trip is 10 hours and 30 minutes, and the flight time of the return trip is 9 hours and 30 minutes.